The running of your family car will likely involve lots of journeys with your kids. Whether it’s trips to the grocery store, school runs, or friends houses for playdates; you’ll want to be taking all the precautions that you can to keep your kids safe on board which means taking time to child-proof your car.
Child-Proof Your Car: Consider Your Car Seats
Car seats are incredibly important when it comes to child-proofing your car. The seats will keep your children in place when driving and protect them in an accident. You’ll know that young children are too little to use a normal seat belt, so a car seat is an essential purchase for them until they are old enough to go without. You need to shop around for the right kind of car seat for your needs, and you should ensure that the seat is installed correctly so that it can do its job.
Generally speaking, infants will have a rear-facing car seat and later on, when a child is around three or four years old, they will move onto front-facing car seats. Booster seats can be used for children who become too big for a car seat but still need a little support. Make sure you are aware of the legal updates regarding booster seats.
Child-Proof Your Car Journey: Choose Toys Wisely
While you’ll want to keep your kids entertained, you won’t want to give them any toys that they could choke on. You also won’t want to give them any toys that could be dangerous in the situation of hard braking or a crash. Soft toys are best, plus the use of kid’s music and similar. With this in mind, make sure the floor of your car is clean of any objects that could be harmful to your kids. Clear your car of anything that could get in your way while you are behind the wheel. Ensure never to place any objects close to your pedals that could get stuck. All common sense but worth reminding yourself of.
Child-Proof Your Car Journey With Regular Maintenance
This is something that I’ve written about before, Regular maintenance is essential to keep everyone in your vehicle safe. Ensure that you get your car serviced often and always inspect your vehicle before you start each journey. Check your tyres, underneath the bonnet and the interior of your car to make sure that all is safe and well. If you keep on top of your maintenance checks, you’ll reduce the likelihood of problems occurring when you’re on the roads.
Teach Your Children About Car Safety
You should teach your kids about the importance of wearing a seatbelt in a vehicle at all times. If they understand the dangers involved, it’s more likely that they will help you to help them. In addition to this, never leave your kids unattended in a vehicle, no matter what. Hot cars are a dangerous environment for children to be left in. It’s always better to stick together; even if you are only popping into the store for a minute.
When it comes to keeping your kids safe in a car, there’s much to think about! But as long as you service your vehicle, get the right car seats and help your kids to learn about safety- you’ll be well on the right track!
Top Tips:
Before you take your kids on a road trip, remember to have a first aid kit to hand and plenty of water too. On longer journeys, children can become more agitated so it’s best to keep these to a minimum if you can help it. If you need to take a longer trip, allow yourself regular breaks and plan the journey in detail so you do not get distracted.